Ear-tag tongs.



F. x. LENK.

EAR TAG TONGS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 15' 191a.

00,943 I Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

Iwmwtor J'mormq mum: FII'IIS 0a.. wnnmurnm. WASNINGIDN. n. c.

FRANK X. LENK, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

EAR-TAG Tones.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

Application filed April 15, 1916. Serial No. 91,482.

To all whom it mag/concern Be it known that I, FRANK X. Linux, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ear-Tag Tongs, of which the following is a specification.

My inventionrelates to tongs, and has for its object to provide a pair of tongs to receive and apply ear tags as identification marks on animals. I

A further object is to provide a pair of such tongs which will retain the tags in the desired position and whereby the ear piercing portion of the tag may have pressure applied thereto which will force said portion of the tag directly throughthe lobe of the ear and bend a small portion of the tag as a clamp.

These objects I accomplish with the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which similar letters and numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures, and as described in the specification forming a part of this application and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings in which I have shown a substantial embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is an elevation of the side of the tongs. Fig. 2 is a plan view of one member of the tongs showing the inner side of the jaw thereon. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the other member of the tongs. Fig. 4 is an edge view of the ear tag to be used in my invention. Fig. 5 is an edge view of the same tag after it has received the pressure of the tongs.

In the use of tongs heretofore provided to fasten ear tags on animals, I find that when piercing the animals ear, and in bending the tag with the tongs to secure it in place, that the tags are not held in the desired position and the tong pressure is not applied at the required place on the tag to readily pierce the animals ear and secure the tag in place. The present invention is intended to overcome such defects by providing a pair of tongs which will receive and hold in the desired position for use, an ear tag having a tapered point, and to apply pressure directly on one end of the ear piercing portion to force said point at right angles through the lobe of the ear and firmly fasten the tag in place.

The tag A is cut from sheet metal and an open ng is provided in one end portion. A portion of the other end of said tag 1s formed into an ear piercing member B by sharpening the point, making two opposed right angled cuts to form square shoulders thereon and bending it at right angles to the contiguous body of the tag. The ends of the tags are semi-octagonal in shape, and when bent have a circular or curved portion medially therein.

The tongs consist of two crooked lever members 1 and 2 pivoted together by the pin 4. The said member 2 has a longitudinally disposed slot or opening 7 cut therein through and within which the member 1 is operated. A spiral spring 8 is carried on said pivot pin 4 with its end portions bearing against the respective members 1 and 2 to normally hold the jaws 5 and 6 apart.

The inner face of the said jaw 5 has an upstanding clamping portion 9 integrally formed thereon and cut to conform with the portion of the tags contiguous the ear piercing member B, that shown being semioctagonal. The said member 1 has outwardly extended integral lugs 10 and 11 thereon to limit the movement of the members 1 and 2 on their pivot pin 4. The inner face of the jaw 6 of said member 1 has an upstanding holding portion 12 thereon cut to conform with the end of the tag in which the opening is provided. Also in the same 'face of said jaw 6 a concaved recess 13 is cut. Longitudinally disposed upstanding flanges 14 are formed along the edges of said jaw 6, and at their ends adjacent the lugs 11 they and the body of the said jaw 6 are formed into an upstanding curved lip 15.

For convenience and to cheapen construction I may provide a plate to form the inner face of said jaw 6 which plate will have the same upstanding holding member 12, concaved recess 13, flanges l4 and lip 15, and be rigidly secured on said jaw.

The operation of my tongs is as follows: The tag is placed in thetongs with the ends of the tag closely contacting with the holding portions 9 and 12 of the jaws, and the lip 15, while the body portion is between the flanges 14. With tongs constructed as descri ed herein the tag will be firmly held and the operator may turn the tongs over or incline them in any direction without the tag falling out or becoming displaced therea in, and ithe't 'ag is held in positionwreceive the fastening pressure at all times. lVhen in place contiguous theglohe of the ea-r and upon applying pressure on the lever portions tag, and upon the point-ofthe taglstrilti-ng against: andinvithin tli 'ef recess the point portion o'f themember B will he bent and formed into a clamp andengage;

' the body of the, tag contiguous the opening.-

' tligatfsides of the tag may jnlj bebrought I ,parallelfto each other bv The lugs 11 ill limit the movement ofthe said javvs 5 and [6 toward 'eac hotherin order P ure-1 Havi g um; o desire "1 to secure by Letters claims I In ear tag tongs the combination of coacting levers pivoted together and one end rilied' iny invention 1 P t k nd.

carried on. the pivot in said levers to hold ssaid javvs normally: apart; lugs on one of said levers to limit the movements thereof;

awprojecting portion on the inner face of eaclr of said jaws cut semioctagonal to closely conform with the ends of ear tags; parallel and Spaced apart longitudinal flanges on the face of one of said jaws and that do not extend to the projecting portion of the said" jaw, to engage the edge of an ear jtag and hold itfrom lateral displacemntga a a curvedupstanding lip contiguous to the rear ends of said flanges to engage the bend of an ear tag to holdit from longitudinal displacement in that direction When pressure is applied on said ear tag by said aws. 4 a

In testimony WhereofI have afliXed my signature in presence of a Witness. a

. FRANK LENK.

lVitness: a I I SAM RANEY.

Co'pt'eseftliis wept mfair lie o'litaineii for f 'v'e cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner ntPatcnts.

i i i Washington, 0: I ,1 

